The colonial city of Antigua is Guatemala’s most visited city. Not only is there a lot to do in this charming spot, but there are also a few sites that can be visited on one or two day trips from the city. Here are some ideas of what you can do near Antigua, Guatemala.
You can read about Antigua in our post Exploring Colonial Antigua.
El Paredon
Dotted along Guatemala’s Pacific Coast are a few beach towns and port cities that are becoming more popular with tourists. El Paredon is one of those and since it is quickly becoming a hotspot for young beach-loving travellers, we thought we should check it out.
Once we reached the beach, all we could see in both directions was a long, black sand beach with the Pacific Ocean pounding on its shore. The sand is black because of the breakdown of basalt rocks that come from the many volcanoes in Guatemala. It was mid morning when we arrived and the black sand was already very hot to walk, even in flip flops. In addition, the temperatures were very high so not surprisingly, not many people were lying on the beach.
Similar to the black sand beach of El Salvador, the main reason people come to this laid-back beach town is for the surf. The water has consistent waves all year long. As well there are many different intensities of surf breaks for all levels of surfers. When we looked to the water, we saw why the beach looked empty; everyone was in the water. Some were grouped together, likely getting surf lessons. In other spots a few isolated surfers were riding the waves like experts. Because of the strong waves and undertow, swimming isn’t safe in many areas, and there are signs indicating locations of dangerous riptides.
A few thatched-roof beach hostels and hotels dot the shore. Most have pools, to let you cool down without going in the rough ocean. They all have a restaurant or bar facing the water, but they’re not intrusive as many beach locations. At least not yet. It seems though these are the early days for El Paredon. So far they cater to a younger crowd, but once word gets out there will likely be high end resorts towering over the black sand.
In the places where the surf brings kelp, local fishermen were casting their nets into the water. We watched for a while until they came out of the water with a successful catch in their nets.
On the side of the beach is the long, tall sand dune that gave El Paredon its name. Meaning ‘The Wall’ in English, this sand dune separates the black beach from the shore of Acomé River. This side has more of a local flare with fewer foreign tourists. Local Guatemalans were swimming in the calm river and eating in the small restaurants along the river bank.
Simple boats at the docks can be hired for mangrove tours up the river. If you’re there at the right time of year you can even take a tour to turtle feeding grounds.
The town has one paved road, but the rest are dirt and sand. Thatched roofs top most of the buildings in town adding more charm to this quiet community. Even the paved main street is quiet with only a few very casual restaurants. Nothing is very formal in El Paredon.
If you need a few days rest with nothing to do but surf, cool in your hostel’s pool or take a mangrove tour then this might just be the place for you. If you need more luxury though, El Paredon may be a little too rustic for your liking. If you still want a black beach vacation, you may want to consider Monterrico. It’s only 70 km up the coast and is much more developed.
When to visit El Paredon
Dry season runs from November to April so would be the best time for a beach vacation. As well, the surf is said to be better for novice surfers during dry season. It will be very hot though with temperatures in the mid 30s C. The black sand and high humidity makes it feel much hotter. Rainy season runs from May to October and the ocean is said to be very rough, which is preferred by advanced surfers.
Where to stay in El Paredon
There are quite a few hostels along the beach and within a few blocks of the sand. There are not as many hotels but we saw more being built so this may change in the near future.
How to get to El Paredon
Tourist shuttles run twice a day from Antigua. We found Tropicana Hostel in Antigua to be a good source for these tickets. There are also shuttles to and from La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City.
On the drive from Antigua you get another look at Acatenango and Fuego Volcanoes as you pass through the towns of Alotenango or Ciudad Viejo.
Ciudad de Guatemala
The busiest and largest city in Guatemala is its capital. Due to a lack of tourist infrastructure and reported crime, Guatemala City is not on most tourist’s itinerary. We intended to spend a night or two to explore the capital but after speaking with others we decided to visit as a day trip from Antigua. It turns out that was a good decision.
Often called Guate by locals, there are not a lot of sites in the capital city, but we were able to find a few interesting buildings in its historic downtown.
Constitution Square
The main square, Plaza de la Constitución (also called Parque Central/ Central Park) was the location of the signing of the Act of Independence of Central America on September 15, 1821. After achieving independence the people of Guatemala suffered for many years under dictatorial leadership. Citizen protests led to the formation of guerilla rebel gangs. Soon the protests became violent and the miliary thought they should step in. They overthrew the government, forming a military junta. Of course with the military in control, violence escalated and a 36 year long civil war ensued. During that time many civilians were killed. A high percentage of those were Mayans and the civil war has since been called a genocide. Finally, in 1996 peace accords were signed and things slowly improved for the citizens. Unfortunately, though there is still a large divide between classes and as a result there is still a lot of distrust in the government and episodes of unrest.
Tributes to those who were killed during this violent history can be seen in Constitution Square. The National Library itself is rather plain and wouldn’t be of interest if it weren’t for the many sculptures around its base. They represented the tragic events in the 36 year long civil war.
The most beautiful building in Guatemala City takes a prominent position along the edge of the square. The majestic Presidential Palace is a grand building with fine details etched into its design. It displays the elegance and grandeur expected in a palace but that contrasts the history of its construction. It was built in the 1940s under a dictatorial leader and many of the labourers were prisoners. Apparently they were treated very poorly and many died during the construction. Today it is no longer used as a palace, but instead for ceremonial and cultural events.
The other notable building in the square is Metropolitan Cathedral. Since it took 64 years to build we had expected an impressive masterpiece, but both inside and out it is rather understated.
There were quite a few people in the park when we were there. Ladies were selling corn and bird seed to feed the resident pigeons. In shady spots around the edge of the square were a few less desirables; some already or still passed out by noon, and others well on their way. During the day the square seemed fine for visitors, but we don’t think you should plan to visit at night.
Running for a few blocks from the main square is the Paseo la Sexta (Sixth Walk). Parts of it are pedestrian-only and it is said to be the nicest street in Guate. As we walked along the street we saw a combination of heritage buildings and mid 19th century cement structures. Both were being used by international and local chain restaurants as well as clothing, electronics and convenience stores.
One of the most unique buildings is a block off this pedestrian street. Built in 1940, an arch connects the old post office (Palacio de Correos) to government offices. The arch is said to be inspired by Santa Catalina in Antigua. Today it is home to the Museum of Posts, Telegraphs, and Philately of Guatemala.
Outside of the main square and these few blocks on Paseo la Sexta, the city is not that desirable. Some areas were very poor with crumbling buildings, others didn’t look as bad but have nothing to offer visitors. On the edge of the city are a couple of new shopping malls with international brands, but they didn’t hold much interest to us.
Safety in Guatemala City
Guate has a reputation for petty crime where tourists are the target. Although the city was nicer than we expected we did see a lot of characters in the historical district that we wouldn’t want to meet at night. During the day it did appear to be safe but you do need to take regular precautions with your money and valuables. There were quite a few police in the area during the day.
How to get to Guatemala City
When flying into Guatemala, most people fly into Guatemala City’s La Aurora International Airport. Shuttles leave directly from the airport for many tourist destinations including Antigua, El Paredon and Flores. Otherwise, you could take an Uber to the city’s downtown, or directly to Antigua.
Chicken buses also frequently travel between Guate and Antigua, but it is not a direct route to the capital’s historical centre. They leave every few minutes for many destinations from El Trebol in Guatemala City. It is marked on Google maps as ‘Bus Antigua’. To catch a chicken bus in Antigua their route is on the edge of town where you can flag one down or go to the central station near the market. It takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours depending on traffic.
Shuttles to Guatemala Airport can be booked from many travel agents and hostels in Antigua and in Flores. All tourist agencies charge a different amount for the ticket. We found Tropicana Hostel to have the fairest price.
Other Places To Visit Near Antigua
Lake Atitlán – For a mix of nature and culture spend a day to two exploring Lake Atitlán. You can read more about this spot in our post Visiting the Towns of Lake Atitlán.
Hiking – There are a few hikes available from Antigua. We did the overnight hike to Acatenango & Fuego Volcanoes which you can read about here. Another popular hike is on Pacaya Volcano where you roast marshmallows on the volcano’s hot lava.
Tours -There are many day tours offered from both Antigua and Lake Atitlán to the traditional market in Chichicastenango as well as to coffee and cocoa plantations. You can find many tour agencies in Antigua and San Pedro la Laguna on Lake Atitlán.
To read more of our adventures in Guatemala, click here.
Coming Next – Best Things To See & Do In Central America
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